RETROSPECTIVE REVIEW OF CULTURE-POSITIVE MYCOBACTERIAL LYMPHADENITIS CASES IN CHILDREN IN NOTTINGHAM, 1979-1990

Laboratory records were reviewed retrospectively for culture-positive cases of mycobacterial lymphadenitis in children less than 15 years ol d. There were six cases of Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection, and 1 5 cases of infection with other mycobacteria. There were no clinical f eatures to distinguish tuberculous from non-tuberculous cases. All cas es managed by chest physicians were initially treated as tuberculosis, whereas paediatric specialists were likely to use initial management appropriate to the infecting organism. Methods of improving the initia l management of non-tuberculous infections are discussed.